The girl had given a loud, long howl to her pack-- specifically her highest rank and ex-beta, @Constantine and @Osprey-- to let them know of her depature. She'd only be gone a handful of days to visit Pearl, it seemed she might have some sort of information to share with her. 

She arrives around midday, her ears perked and posture neutral. She waits a ways off from the border, letting out a long call for @Pearl.

A man who was not Pearl comes to greet her, and she dips her head politely to him. "My name is Aria January, alpha of Donnelaith. A male from Silvertip Mountain brought word that Pearl had invited me down," she explains calmly, lifting her head only to smile kindly at the male. She liked this pack, just as much as she did last time. Sebastian appeared just as friendly as Pearl. 

Speaking of, the white female pads into view, reintroducing her and giving the male a nudge on the shoulder. Her ears perk curiously, but she doesn't gawk. "Pearl," she says happily, her tail wagging with excitement-- she hadn't seen her friend in a while. Her expression does falter though when Pearl mentions catching up-- nothing positive has happened in Donnelaith, as of late.

Aria nods, a rest would be nice but she always enjoyed walking and talking. She begins to walk alongside her friend, shaking her head quickly. "I have a whole mountain of information for you," she says, her lips curving in a frown. "Tell me about you-- is that Sebastian a boy toy of yours?" she asks, a gentle pur playing in her voice, an eyebrow wiggling playfully at her friend. "He's handsome and polite, I approve," she adds, not that it really mattered by now.

Aria smiles at the gentle teasing, but frowns once again when the pale girl asks again about Donnelaith. "I'm glad you've taken in a child-- I'm sure you make a great adopted mother," she says, a grin playing at her lips-- but only barely.

"Lasher has passed," she says quietly, ears flicking. "I am now the solo leader of Donnelaith-- Dante and Osprey both stepped down," she breathes out, stealing a quick glance at Pearl to see her reaction before continuing. "And, before he passed, he knocked up a newly accepted member-- so I'm still trying to decide what to do with her." There was more, but this all seemed the most important.

Aria sighs, shrugging. "I've been speaking with Constantine-- the other Mayfair sibling?" she adds the last part just in case, although she's pretty sure Pearl knows who Constantine is. "He came back shortly after Casmir left. He thinks that the pack has too many healers-- mostly Lasher's doing-- and not enough wolves to actually protect the pack... which... I agree with," she adds the last part slowly, mostly because she's not really sure how that's really relative to Pearl, and realizes she's begun to ramble about her own problems-- as usual.

"Osprey's children were born about two months ago. A boy and two girls," she shares, her tail wagging happily. "They're sweethearts," she adds happily, then her expression falters. "Though, I haven't seen much of Dante, lately."

It's true, Dante had been much like Osprey, who tended to stay at the back of the pack and contribute silently-- which was never an issue. Maybe he was just hanging back more, staying with his children-- she couldn't really blame him for that. "You're right," she says with a smile, looking again to her friend at her next comment. "I hope so, yeah, it still feels like the pack is so empty. It's nice to have wolves to be around," she adds, tail wagging. Eilidh was distant as always, and although Deirdre was aging and becoming more of a friend to Aria-- it wasn't the same as having Pearl and Casmir there all the time. 

"Deirdre is growing up quickly," she adds with a smile, a bit of sadness in her voice. "She's becoming the healer her mother was." She pauses. "Emaleth has disappeared, though."

Aria smiles dully at her friends comment, shrugging. "It's all the 'magick'," she says, pronouncing magic somewhat strangley-- for she's never actually believed in it. The word is something she's heard Deirdre use often, but never quite understood it. "Donnelaith is a pack built from the Mayfairs. All of their weird ways transfer to the entire pack. I think, anyway," she says, shrugging. She pauses, biting her lip. "Deirdre wants to lead Donnelaith," she says quietly, her ears flicking backwards. 

"She is too young, of course, but she is Lasher's daughter. She has a right to claim the throne-- no?" It's somewhat retorical, but it bothers her nonetheless. She worked hard-- and possibly fucked her way up the heirarchy-- but does that not count for anything? Deirdre had no true leadership qualities, she just made friends with everyone she saw. Granted, she was still a pup.

"I'm just hoping she'd be content waiting until I at least-- died, or something," she mutters, shrugging. "I mean I was beta at barely a year-- it's hypocritical of me to deny her a leadership position based on age and experience," she adds, tail swishing behind her. She glances to Pearl, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Thank you, Pearl, it means a lot," she says, her gaze falling forward away.

Aria nods. "Yeah, directly west of Broken Antler, actually," she says, motioning with her head towards where the Creek was. "I only visited once to tell Casmir of his fathers passing-- another girl intercepted me but... I never got her name," she adds, trying to pin down more information for her friend. 

"They've been fine," Aria answers slowly, honestly not sure about the entirety of the pack. "A lot of them are still healing from Lasher's passing," she adds sadly, ears flicking. With a final sigh of uncertainty, the girl nudges her friend's shoulder. "Pearl, could I ask you something?" 

"Do you think Rowan should be chased out?" she asks quietly. "Not even because they're not mine because... well, that's dumb I'm really not that territorial. But--" she pauses, taking in a breath. "I'm afraid. If I let the Mayfair blood rule Donnelaith over me-- even after Lasher's death-- that no one will truly see me as the alpha," she admits, glancing at Pearl. "I'll be a placeholder. For Constantine or Eilidh, if they ever decide they want to lead, or Deirdre, when she matures enough." Her ears fall backwards.

"Donnelaith belongs to the Mayfairs, but I don't want to be a removable piece of their claim. If I let these pups stay for the sole reasoning that they are Lashers, does that not just enforce the idea that he is still in power? that I am just holding his place until one of his children can take my place?"